Every employer dreads the implications that come with workplace injuries. From the finances that you’ll need to foot in damages to the risk posed to your reputation, workplace injuries could be quite a nightmare. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to prevent workplace injuries and promote office safety.
Ways You Can Improve Your Office Safety
There are several factors in play when it comes to choosing your office safety methods. They all vary depending on your office size and the number of employees. Here are some of the most effective safety measures that may work across all types of offices.
1. Engage Occupational Clinicians
The first thing you will want to do is to engage occupational medicine clinicians. They will scrutinize your office and make evaluations on the safety risks and possible solutions you can employ. With their help, you will be able to examine an employee after a workplace injury and determine whether or not they are fit to resume their duties at work.
2. Install a Monitoring System
Not all the safety risks you face are from within. Some may be eternal, such as burglary and terrorist attacks. The best way to mitigate such risks is to install a monitoring system in your workplace. This way, the system will inform you in case of a threat. You may even program some of your monitoring systems to automatically call for help whenever there is a security risk at the office.
3. Proper Training
Workplace safety training is vital to all offices. You need to equip your employees with all the knowledge they need to keep them safe. Inform them of how to use the dangerous equipment and what to do in case of an injury. If your employees learn how to handle themselves in the office, there will be lower chances of injuries.
4. Use Signs and Labels
One of the reasons injuries take place in offices is due to a lack of proper signage. Ensure you put signs and labels on anything that is a potential safety risk. This may be slippery floors, high voltage power sources, toxic chemicals, or any other thing that requires proper care when handling.
5. Implement Safety Protocols
To obtain the ultimate safe workplace, you will need to formulate and implement specific safety protocols. Such protocol will come in handy in guiding your workers. Ensure that everyone you employ adheres to these protocols. Employees that do not follow safety protocols may end up being a liability to the company. You could consider introducing penalties for employees who defy the safety rules and put themselves and others in danger.
6. Offer Incentives
While penalties for defying rules may work, incentives for careful employees may be an even better motivation. You could improve safety at the workplace by offering employees rewards once they faithfully ensure safety in the workplace and follow the set rules and protocols.
7. Keep It Clean and Uncluttered
A clean place is the safest place to be. Ensure that the office is well organized and clean at all times. Do not clutter your office with any unnecessary tools. Another tip for uncluttering your office is to ensure that you limit the workers in a particular office depending on its size. Do not overcrowd your offices.
8. Regular Inspections
Ensure you carry out several routine inspections from time to time. Ensure that all the electronics are in good working conditions. You may also want to inspect the building as a whole. These may include floorboards, the ceiling, and stairs. Ensure they are all in a good state and that none of them pose a risk. If anything is worn out or out of place, ensure you immediately fix or replace it.
9. Maintain an Open Communication Channel
One of the best ways to spot and amend safety risks is by getting feedback from your employees. Encourage employees to share their safety concerns with you any time they arise. This could be in any form, from emails to a suggestion box. In smaller companies, you may even encourage them to meet the manager and share their concerns with them physically. Whatever works best, ensure that they are free to share their input.
10. Be The Example
Make it clear that nobody is above the office safety rules. The best way to do this is to adhere to them yourself. Ensure that both the managerial staff and the executive team abide by the safety rules at the office.
Safety Should Be Your Priority
While focusing on growing your company, safety never features on the top of your concerns. However, it should. A safe workplace always translates to better productivity. If your employees feel safe, they can focus on being productive and attaining the best. Moreover, it will save you the trouble of paying workers comp or any other damages that may arise from an unsafe workplace. Do not let your office safety be an afterthought! Make it your priority.
